Trump to dispatch Haley and Price to Africa

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he is dispatching United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley and Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price to Africa.

Trump told African leaders ahead of a lunch at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel that his administration is “closely monitoring and deeply disturbed by the ongoing violence in South Sudan and in the Congo.”

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“Millions of lives are at risk, and we continue to provide humanitarian assistance. But real results in halting this catastrophe will require an African-led peace process and the sincere — really sincere — commitment of all parties involved,” Trump said. “And I know you’re working on that, and you’re working on that very hard. To assist in these efforts, I’m sending Ambassador Nikki Haley to Africa to discuss avenues of conflict and resolution and, most importantly, prevention.”

The State Department earlier Wednesday said the U.S. government is “dismayed by the violence and death of more than 30 Burundian nationals and a Congolese soldier” in the Democratic Republic of Congo last week.

“The cause of the violence must be determined and perpetrators must be held accountable,” State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement. She also called on Congo’s government “to protect those civilians affected by violence from further attacks” and urged its security forces “to refrain from using excessive force.”

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Trump also announced that the U.S. would maintain its partnership on key health initiatives.

“We cannot have prosperity if we’re not healthy,” the president said. “My secretary of Health and Human Services will be traveling to Africa to promote our global health security agenda.”

He opened his remarks by acknowledging Africa’s “tremendous business potential.” The U.S., he said, plans to extend economic partnerships to African nations “committed to self-reliance and to fostering opportunities for job creation in both Africa and the United States.”

“Africa has tremendous business potential,” Trump said. “I have so many friends going to your countries trying to get rich. I congratulate you. They’re spending a lot of money.”